Xiaomi’s Android TVs offer thousands of apps, but the standard browser is often frustrating: slow loading pages, problems with Full HD video, uncomfortable remote control. Choosing an alternative browser can dramatically improve the experience — from watching YouTube without lags to comfortable surfing sites with a responsive interface.
In this article, we tested 5 Popular browsers on Mi TVs TV 4S/5X/P1 (model 2020–2026 And you'll see which browser is better at streaming video. 4K, Which supports extensions like AdBlock, and which is optimized for voice management through Google Assistant, and also let's look at the nuances of installation and configuration - from the manual bootloader. APK Bypassing the restrictions of Google Play.
Why does the standard browser on Xiaomi TV work poorly?
Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV A2, P1E, Q2, etc.) pre-installed Android WebView or its lightweight version from Google, designed for basic tasks: opening web pages from apps, logging into services, but for full surfing, it has critical drawbacks:
- 🐢 Low performance: even on top models with 4 GB of RAM, pages load 2-3 times slower than on a smartphone.
- 🎥 Video problems: not supporting HDR10 Dolby Vision, often on YouTube or Twitch.
- 🎮 Uncomfortable control: cursor is difficult to hit on small buttons, there are no gestures to scale.
- 🔒 Limited functionality: no synchronization of bookmarks with Chrome, ad blocker, read mode.
The reason is the Android TV architecture: it's optimized for streaming video and apps, not for surfing the web. Smartphone browsers are worse because they don't have touch interface support and big screen adaptation, so you need specialized solutions.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with an Amlogic processor S905 (models up to 2022) some browsers may not support hardware video acceleration. Check compatibility in the table below.
Top.-5 Android-browser TV Xiaomi: Comparative table
We tested browsers on Xiaomi Mi TV P1 55" (2023) with a resolution of 3840×2160 and a MediaTek MT9611 processor. The criteria were five: page load speed, video support, remote control convenience, extensions and stability.
| browser | Speed (point out of 5) | Support for video | Control from the remote | Expansion | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV Bro | 5 | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision | Gestures, voice search | AdBlock, Dark Mode | The paid version for $5 |
| Puffin TV | 4 | 4K, but without HDR | A virtual mouse | Built-in VPN | Brakes on weak TV |
| Firefox for TV | 3 | Full HD, no 4K | Backlit cursor | Synchronization with PC | Slow scrolling |
| Kiwi Browser | 4 | 4K, but without Dolby | For TV mode. | Support for Chrome Extensions | Tough setup |
| JioPages | 2 | Only 1080p. | Simplified interface | Built-in translator | Lots of ads. |
The leader of the test was TV Bro, which is the only one that correctly reproduces 4K HDR on YouTube and supports gestures for zooming (double tap on the remote = zoom). However, its paid version can scare users away. The alternative is Puffin TV, which offers a built-in VPN and a virtual mouse, but loses in speed.
How to install a browser on Xiaomi TV: step-by-step instructions
Installation of the browser on Android TV It is different from a smartphone: many APK-Files are not compatible with the architecture arm64, Google Play is a limited option, and we have a one-stop solution that works on all Xiaomi models (including Mi). TV Stick):
- Enable installation from unknown sources: Go to Settings → Security and Restrictions → Unknown sources and allow installation for the File Commander or bootloader app.
- Download the browser's APK: Use a TV browser (e.g., standard) and go to the APKMirror website. Search for the browser name + android tv (e.g., "TV Bro android tv apk").
- Install APK: Open the downloaded file via File Commander. If there is an error "App not installed", check the Android version (should be at least 9.0).
Check the Android TV version (Settings → About TV)
Download APK only from verified sources (APKMirror, Aptoide TV)
Free 200+ MB of memory (Settings → Storage)
Disable VPN (may block download)
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For Xiaomi Mi TV 4A/4S (2018–2019) models with Amlogic S905X processor, we recommend Puffin TV browser – it is better optimized for weak chipsets. Owners of Mi TV Q1/Q2 (2021–2023) will suit TV Bro or Kiwi Browser.
⚠️ Note: Do not install browsers through ADB (Adb install command – this could disrupt Google Play Services on Xiaomi TVs with firmware MIUI TV.
Which browser to choose for specific tasks?
There is no universal "best" browser, and the choice depends on your priorities.
🎬 To view videos (YouTube, Twitch, IPTV)
The best choice is TV Bro or Kiwi Browser.
- 📺 TV Bro: Supports 4K HDR On YouTube, there is a built-in player for MKV and MP4.
- 🔄 Kiwi Browser: allows you to install extensions like uBlock Origin to block ads.
Avoid Firefox for TV – it doesn’t play video at a resolution above 1080p.
🛒 Online shopping (AliExpress, Wildberries)
Puffin TV is better suited:
- 🖱️ Virtual mouse makes it easier to fill out forms.
- 🔒 Built-in VPN This will help to bypass regional price locks.
The alternative is Chrome in Desktop mode (but it slows down on weak TVs).
📚 To read articles and news
Perfect Firefox for TV:
- 📖 Reader View mode that removes ads.
- 🔄 Synchronization of bookmarks with the desktop version.
💡
If the browser does not open sites with video (for example, VK Video), try to disable the option “Saving traffic” or “Blocking scripts” in the settings.
Setting up the browser for maximum performance
Even the fastest browser will slow down if you don’t optimize it for Android TV. Here are the key settings (like TV Bro):
- Turn off animation: Go to Settings → Additional → UI animation and select "No animations." This will speed up page scroll by 20-30%.
- Activate hardware acceleration: In Settings → Experimental functions include "GPU-On Xiaomi TVs with MediaTek chipset, this increases FPS scrolling.
- Set control from the remote: In Settings → Control set the cursor sensitivity to "High" and turn on "Double press for zoom".
For Puffin TV, we recommend:
- 🔧 B Settings → Cloud Protection disable “Phishing Protection” (it slows down page loading).
- 🌐 B Settings → Select System language to avoid coding problems on Russian-language websites.
How to speed up loading of pages on weak TVs (Mi TV 4A/4C)
Solving common problems
Even with the best browsers on Xiaomi TV, there can be errors. We have collected typical problems and ways to solve them:
🚫 Browser not installed ("App not installed")
Causes and solutions:
- 📱 Incompatible architecture: Download version APK for arm64 (For example, with APKMirror, the filter is CPU).
- 🔄 Conflict with an existing browser: Remove the standard browser through Settings → Annexes.
- 🛠️ Damaged. APK: Check the checksum of the file (MD5) bootloader.
🎞️ YouTube videos are slowing down or not playing
The problem is typical for TVs with the Amlogic S905.
- In YouTube (web version), select “1080p” instead of “Auto”.
- Turn off the "Hardware Acceleration" option in your browser (in TV Bro: Settings → Additional).
- Use an alternative player: in the address bar, replace youtube.com with youtu.be.
🖱️ The cursor goes missing or twitches
A common problem when connecting a wireless mouse or keyboard.
- 🔌 Reconnect the input device through Settings → Devices → Bluetooth.
- 📶 In the browser settings, reduce the "Cursor Sensitivity" to 50%.
- 🔄 Restart the TV (hold the Power button on the remote for 10 seconds).
💡
If the browser is constantly crashing, check the free memory of the TV. On models Xiaomi Mi TV with 8 GB of storage for stable operation of the browser you need at least 1 GB of free space.